(1890–1960), English linguist; full name John Rupert Firth. Firth was noted for his contributions to linguistic semantics and prosodic phonology and for his insistence on studying both speech sounds and words in context. He was a major influence on the development of systemic grammar

(1927–89), Scottish psychiatrist; full name Ronald David Laing. He became famous for his controversial views on madness and in particular on schizophrenia, linking what society calls insanity with politics and family structure

(1895–1978), English literary critic; full name Frank Raymond Leavis. Founder and editor of the quarterly Scrutiny (1932–53), he emphasized the value of critical study of English literature to preserving cultural continuity. Notable works: The Great Tradition (1948)

(1906–2001), Indian novelist and short-story writer; full name Rasipuram Krishnaswamy Narayan. His best-known novels are set in an imaginary small Indian town, and portray its inhabitants in an affectionate yet ironic manner; they include Swami and Friends (1935) and The Man-Eater of Malgudi (1961)

(1892–1973), British novelist and literary scholar, born in South Africa; full name John Ronald Reuel Tolkien. He is famous for the fantasy adventures The Hobbit (1937) and The Lord of the Rings (1954-5), set in Middle Earth

(1901–89), Trinidadian historian, journalist, political theorist, and novelist; full name Cyril Lionel Robert James. After working as a cricket columnist he established a reputation as a historian with his study of the Haitian revolution, Black Jacobins (1938)

(1908–65), US journalist; born Egbert Roscoe Murrow. He broadcast from London during the Blitz of World War II, ending each program with “Good night, and good luck.” He later created the radio series Hear It Now (1950–51) and the television series See It Now (1951–58). He was also well known for his television interview series Person to Person (1953–59)

(1913–2001), US electrical engineer, inventor, and businessman; full name William Reddington Hewlett. He invented an audio oscillator and with David Packard (1912–96) cofounded the Hewlett-Packard Company in 1939

(1895–1983), American designer and architect; full name Richard Buckminster Fuller. He is best known for his invention of the geodesic dome and for his ideals of using the world’s resources with maximum purpose and least waste